12 Days Blog Hop: Sugar Scrub Tutorial and FREE Printable Tag
Who says you have to spend a lot of money to give a great gift?! I certainly don’t buy into that myth!! In fact, many of the most welcomed and meaningful gifts I have given to others have been handmade by me! And, although I’d like to devote a lot of time to each individual gift, I only have so many hours in the day, and I have a HUGE family. Spending hours and hours on making gifts is just not realistic.
However, this gift is quick, easy, FRUGAL, classy and luxurious! Anyone can make it - even non-crafty types!
Today, we are going to make a batch of sugar scrub for the ladies in your life.
What you will need:
- 1 Cup of Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup of Sugar
- One or two drops of an essential oil like peppermint, orange, lavender, etc.
- The oil from a vitamin E capsule (optional)
- A mixing bowl, measuring cup, and spoon
- A small, decorative jar with a lid
In a mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil and sugar. Add a drop or two of essential oil, and mix well. Stir in the oil from the vitamin E capsule, if desired. Fill small jars with the sugar scrub, and tighten lid.
My cost: 1 large bottle of Vegetable Oil cost me 25¢ after coupons, and I used about 2¢ of it. Sugar cost me $2.09 after coupons, and I used about 25¢ of it. I asked my Facebook friends if they had any essential oils that I could use, and a couple of them offered theirs, so it was FREE for me. I opted not to add the vitamin E capsule, and I decided to package my scrub in used baby food jars that I picked up at a garage sale for free last summer. I painted the lids with black spray paint that I already had. SO, this batch of sugar scrub, which I divided into 2 jars cost me 52¢, or just 26$ per gift.
{Little tip - stock up on all of your baking items this time of year!! Even if you are not an extreme couponer, like me, you will still save a lot of money!}
To make it pretty, I simply printed out this FREE printable gift tag set and tied it on with a little ribbon!
Click on the image to download your free printable gift tag designed using my Ornament Cuts template set and digital designs by Pamela Donnis.
You can purchase this printable Canister Box to hold your luxurious sugar scrub gift! Include a spoon that you picked up from Goodwill for 29¢ and you’re all set!
Looking for more frugal gift ideas?
- Keep an eye on our 12 Days of Christmas Blog hop! More ideas and Freebies comin’ at ya!
- Create a unique photo ornament!
- Make a hostess gift using coupon scores! FREEBIE alert!
- Check out this easy, inexpensive and classy photo gift!
Merry Christmas to you, and come back tomorrow to grab the next freebie in the 12 Days Blog Hop!
You may want to subscribe now so you don’t miss anything!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site! Thank you!
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I love this idea! I am definitely picking up some supplies. This is the perfect gift for the ladies in our neighborhood!
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Woh, I had no idea it was so easy! I paid like $8 at Bath and Body Works last year. I LOVE sugar scrub!
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[...] Kelleigh is making luxurious bathtime sugar scrub and she has a cute {FREE} printable gift tag to go with it! I honestly had NO idea it was so easy [...]
[...] Homemade Sugar Scrubby Crystal on December 1, 2010Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs is giving away a free Sugar Scrub Printable Set — which includes a printable for the adorable paper canister shown above as well as the gift [...]
Thanks so much for sharing! This is great..have you ever tried making it with Extra Virgin Olive Oil intead of the vegetable oil?
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Cara, yes I have! It’s great, but just more expensive.
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This is a great idea for my children’s teachers! Where do you buy the essential oils? Thanks!
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Andee Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I have seen them at whole food stores like whole foods and fruitful yeild. I’m not sure where else you could get them.
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 8:03 pm
The ones I borrowed were from Bath and Body Works! I’ve also seen them on Amazon (great if you have Swagbucks!).
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Peggy Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 6:06 am
I usually get my essential oils from Hobby Lobby.
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:25 am
I’m in Texas right now and I’m having my first Hobby Lobby experiences. LOVE that store! Perhaps I’ll go back today to check out the essential oils!! Maybe they’ll be 50% off! LOL!
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SarahD Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I just got some yesterday at The Christmas Tree Shoppe, which is owned by Bed, Bath, and Beyond, which is new to our area. They’re 2/$1.00 and they have about 8 different ones to choose from! They were by the candle stuff. That’s an AMAZING deal for essential oils if you have one around!
I know this would be even more expensive, but even more luxurious
(and still cheaper than store bought!) - have you ever tried coconut oil?
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Can you believe I have never tried coconut oil in ANYTHING? I’m so stinkin’ cheap! I’d love to try it sometime, though. It does sound luxurious!
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Mrs Deaton Reply:
December 8th, 2010 at 11:12 am
If you are using Coconut oil in body products you can buy refined coconut oil. It is a bit less expensive :)It’s still a splurge, but it is sooo worth it used in my lip balm
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Could you do this with brown sugar? If so, would you omit the essential oil then?
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 8:05 pm
That sounds wonderful!! Considering how inexpensive sugar is this time of year, you should definitely try it!!
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Great idea - I definitely want to make some of these for friends. Any suggestions on where to get cute sealable jars?
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:27 am
I would imagine that craft stores would have them, but I actually hold onto my old candle jars after they burn out. The mini guys are so cute!! Also, IKEA has some fun things. Of course, I used baby food jars! They turn cute when you spray paint the lid!
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Can you please type out what the instructions say on the tag? Thank you! Cute idea!!
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 am
It says, “Mix well before each use. Apply to wet skin in a circular motion, focusing on rough patches. Leave on for 2 minutes, then rinse.”
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This may seem like a stupid question, but what is “sugar scrub”? the present looks great, but I would need to know what I am giving away before I do! Thanks
Hugs
Kerri
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 am
KayJay, sugar scrub is used to exfoliate and moisturize skin! It feels wonderful!
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Thanks for sharing! Great idea and the cost to make it just sweetens the gift even more! =)
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ok, silly question…what am i doing wrong with the printable stuff??? when i click on it, it just shows me another pix….is it supposed to be a template? thanks! love this idea!!!
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 2:50 pm
If you click on the image of the tags (or the link above it), you should be directed to download a zip file, which you would then open and print out the tags. The big preview image of the entire set would just take you to a big picture, though, since it is a preview of what is included in the grab bag that our team is selling. The tags are free, the canister is in the grab bag. Hope that helps!!
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Do you think I could use the oil from an oil diffuser set (the kind that comes with Reeds)? I’m worried about skin reactions to the oil. Is there anything else that you have tried to scent the sugar scrub?
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Cara Reply:
December 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 am
Nat I personally wouldn’t as I like a more natural product..they are usually mixed with alcohol or DPG (dipropylene glycol) and contain fragrance oils instead of essential oils.
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I’m not sure if anyone else has tried this, but I found it very liquidy and oily. I added between 3 and 4 cups sugar (when doubling the recipe) in order to suck up the oil. BUT, I found that rinsing along with a little soap left my hands nice and soft (without all the grease)-so I would suggest adding that to instructions. Fun though-so thanks! And btw, I just purchased some Ball 1/2 pint canning jars, as I didn’t have baby food jars.
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 6th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Dsperin, I added a little more sugar to my second batch, and I like it better, too! I did notice that if I stirred the mix very well that the consistency of the first batch was just fine. The problem is that all of the oil rises to the top, so you REALLY have to stir!!
Thanks for the tips!
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Thanks for the great idea! I had just received this as a gift and thought it would be fun to try it. I substituted the vegetable oil (too greasy) for 100% extra virgin olive oil and added peppermint essesial oil, tea tree oil, and vitamin E oil. I placed peppermint candies at the bottom of jars I found at the dollar tree and tied it with a cute peppermint colored ribbon. I then rubberband a teaspoon to the lid of the jar. It looks like a really expensive gift
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[...] Here is the secret stuff that’s in the jars. Thanks so much to my friend, Edwena, who told me about this great gift idea! [...]
I know it is FRAGRANCE oil and not ESSENTIAL oil, but could you use FRAGRANCE oil? I have a ton of that from Bath and Body Works, and since I’ll be making these for Christmas, I can make them in the favorite scent of whoever Im giving it too.
I also do have clove oil from GNC (use it for tooth aches), do you think that would smell good as a sugar scrub??
Thanks ;0)
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 10th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Well, now you have me wondering! Look at my picture. Is yours the same stuff? I thought it was essential oil, but it might have been fragrance oil! However, it is the same stuff they put in their lotions and scrubs, so I would imagine it would be fine!
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Sara Reply:
December 11th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Mine don’t have the droppers on them, and it looks like yours might be their “relaxation” line (lavender, orange ginger, eucalyptus, etc….) so Im not sure if that line is “essential” oil or not. However, the oil I have is their general line that is used in the oil warmers, and scentbug fan thing, so I assume it is fragrance oil, as the same stuff sold at Walmart (I looked) is fragrance. AC Moore sells the essential oil in with their candle/soap making products and they sell it for around $7. Was just wondering if you could use either as I hate to go out and buy essential just to use a few drops.
(Hope this makes sense…Im so tired)
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 12th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
I guess I would be leery of using something like that, because our skin is our largest organ and readily absorbs what we put on it. I’d want to be pretty sure it didn’t contain something harmful.
You could always do what I did and start asking around!! I agree that it doesn’t make sense to go buy some!!
Another idea . . . you could always use brown sugar and vanilla. It would smell like vanilla (yum!) and would look cool, too!
I’ve never used sugar stub before. What should the consistency be like? When I did equal parts extra virgin olive oil and evaporated cane juice sugar, it seemed really runny. Maybe the sugar isn’t refined enough to dissolve? Also, i had to use a lot of peppermint essential oil to mask the olive oil smell…
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Hi Sara! I’ve actually never used that kind of sugar and don’t know what it is like, but your finished product should be just like oily sugar when it is well mixed. It does separate in the jar, which is why it needs to be well mixed, but you CAN pick it up in your fingers without oil running through your fingers. As for the olive oil smell, that was why I used vegetable oil. I know you can use olive oil, but I was concerned about the smell! Sorry!
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Sara Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Thanks, Kelleigh!
Even when I doubled the sugar, it was still runny, definitely not something I could pick up with my fingers in chunks, but the sugar and oil were mixed enough to apply it and my skin feels amazing!. I used that sugar because it was organic, and i figured that if I didn’t want to ingest pesticides, then i didn’t want to slather them on my skin either. :). I’m still converting to au natural body care, and this seemed like an easy step.
And I did mask the olive oil smell, I just didn’t get the extra pepperminty smell I was initially aiming for. Oh well, it will still make great stocking stuffers!
Thanks for sharing the recipe and the beautiful tags!
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Ok, after some research (my own searching and asking a friend who is very into soap making) here is what I came up with regarding the fragrance/essential oil. You should NOT use oil that is for oil warmers/reeds etc. as it can BURN/IRRITATE your skin. Should even say so on the label. However, there are 2 different kinds of FRAGRANCE oil. #1 is the oil I just mentioned-to be used with reeds and in oil warmers. #2 is the oil that is sold in the soap making department at the craft stores. This type of fragrance oil is made for use on skin.
So, for those of you who are using the oil from Bath and Body Works, Christmas Tree Store (the 2/$1.00) these are the WRONG oil! The proper oil at AC Moore and Michaels was around $3.00 (they sold more expensive essential oil, so just really your preference), and they always have 50% off or 40% off 1 item in their weekly ads.
I even went to AC Moore and read the warning lables on the oil they sell with their candles/potpourri….it says on there not to be used for skin.
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Sara Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
and too clarify once again…if the label says for USE IN OIL WARMERS this is the WRONG TYPE OF OIL!
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Thanks so much for researching this, Sara!! VERY helpful info!
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Hi there, I just whipped up a batch of this for some Christmas gifts and I found that if I did 2 parts sugar to 1 part oil, the consistency was much, much better. I love this idea! I can’t wait to give these gifts! Thanks!
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[...] 5 - Sugar Scrub [...]
I made some of this today and it is awesome! I did brown sugar for one batch and mixed it with some cinnamon scent it smelled really good! My hands are so soft now from dumping it all over lol.
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[...] I purchased canning jars. For the first batch I made, I used these. For the second batch (pictured), I used these. Ingredients you will need: Vegetable oil (I used Light Olive Oil), sugar, essential oil (I used Lavender) and Vit E capsules (optional). I pulled out a big bowl, and mixed 2 cups sugar with 1 cup oil. If you like it thinner, add more sugar. I then added a couple of drops of Lavender oil - don’t add too much. I did break open a Vit E capsule and added that to the batch. It will help preserve the oil. After mixing all of that together, I spooned into clean, dry jars. You can find a link to the tags here [...]
How much vitamin E oil is in a capsule? I only have the liquid vitamin E that’s not in a capsule.
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Kelleigh Reply:
March 19th, 2011 at 10:02 am
Good question, Brittany! I have no idea. I wouldn’t use more than a few drops, though. They are about the size of a multivitamin.
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What is the shelf life for a scrub? I’m thinking of Christmas presents and I wanted to know if I should wait till closer to make it.
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Kelleigh @ Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
It’s been a year, and I’m still using some that I made for myself last Christmas!
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Hello! I am looking forward to making sugar scrub for gifts. Have you use Raw Sugar in place of the white sugar?
Thanks
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Kelleigh @ Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
I haven’t, but mostly because my raw sugar is pretty big. Large grains that might hurt my skin. Probably great for feet, though! Perhaps I’ll try that next! You COULD go with some brown sugar! That would be fun!
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I really love these printable tags, but I can’t seem to get them to print..i have downloaded them, but it won’t let me print them. Do you know what I’m doing wrong?
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Kelleigh @ Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs Reply:
December 10th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Hi Amelia! You just print the tags the same way you would print a picture from your computer. It is a jpg file, just like your photos. I know that every computer is a little different, but the way I do it is open the photo in my photo editing software (I use the free download called Picasa) and then go File>Print. Otherwise, I don’t know what you might be doing wrong! Sorry!
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Anita Reply:
December 12th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
I am also having problems with printing your gift tag. It is eliminating all options. Can not save, copy, or print. It is like it is blocked so it can not be stolen. I hope that you can tell me what it is that I am missing in order to be able to print this. Thank you for the great idea.
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Kelleigh Reply:
December 12th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Did you click on the tags to begin the download? You don’t right click and save! Just click on it, and the zip will download. Then, double click the zip file and it should open up. The jpg file is inside. Let me know if you figure it out!
Transport company Novosibirsk…
[...]12 Days Blog Hop: Sugar Scrub Tutorial and FREE Printable Tag | Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs[...]…
I love that you are so generous with your ideas. I plan to make sugar scrub for my teaching teammates for Christmas, as I have 8 - this can get very expensive, particularly on a teachers’ salary.
One thing I found amazing is that you asked facebook friends for the essential oils to make your own sugar scrub gifts with so you did not have to purchase them yourself. That is beyond money saving and being frugal, to cheap and tacky. I like to save money, but will not be going that route to do so.
Teachers are famous for borrowing, sharing, and trading, and I appreciate all the ideas you have shared…I will be using many of your ideas, but will be purchasing my own ingredients for the gifts I make, whether they be on sale, full price, at a yard sale, etc…
Thanks so much.
Diane
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Kelleigh Reply:
August 6th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Thank you for your input, Diane. I wonder, though, as you wrote your comment on my blog, did you run that one past your “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it” filter? You compliment and then you insult, which effectively wipes out the compliment. Thankfully, I’m a big girl. If I choose to borrow 4 drops of essential oil from a friend, I’ll continue to do so, and then I’ll return the favor when she asks for something from me!
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i am trying to open the gift tags and can’t. Have they been deleted?
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Kelleigh Reply:
October 26th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
The link worked for me! Here it is: http://kelleighratzlaff.com/Freebies/KelleighR-SugarScrubFreebie.zip
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